What is it?

The mid-life facelift that refreshed the standard C-Class earlier this year finally makes it to the top-of-the-range C63 AMG saloon and estate. While the conventional lineup received some significant alterations, the manufacturer hasn't had to try quite so hard with its mesmerising four-door bruiser.

There are some gentle styling tweaks of course, including a new radiator grille, reshaped headlights and a reworked interior, but the car's key ingredient - its 451bhp 6.2-litre V8 engine - remains unchanged beneath the bonnet's re-angled power bulge.

It has been manacled to a different gearbox, though. In place of the old 7G-Tronic torque converter the C63 gets a new seven-speed MCT transmission which uses a wet start-up clutch for quicker shifting.

Other mechanical changes are limited to detailed suspension updates which include a new rear axle anti-roll bar and revised spring and damper rates intended to improve the C63?s occasionally brittle ride quality.